640 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



FORESTRY. 



Forest planting in eastern Nebraska, F. G. Miller ( V. S. Dept. Agr., Forest 

 /S'prr. Virc. 'i-l, pp. .32). — A study was made of the forest plantations in eastern 

 Nebraslia to ascertain the species of trees best suited for planting throughout 

 the region. The plantations already in existence were studied with reference 

 to their silvicultui'al requirements, the amount and value of wood products 

 grown, and the effect of different methods of planting. 



The planting of forests has decreased in eastern Nebraska in recent years, 

 and some of the earlier planted forests are being cut off. Tables are given 

 showing the height and diameter growth of the principal species of trees 

 planted in eastern Nebraska over a period of .50 years, the amount of heart 

 wood in trees of various diameters, and the yield of cottonwood on bottom land 

 and on upland, as well as the yield of catalpa. green ash, black walnut, honey 

 locust, osage orange, white willow, silver maple, box elder, Russian mulberry, 

 white elm, Lombardy poplar, black locust, and various other species of broad- 

 leaf trees and of pines. 



The data obtained show that hardy catalpa, osage orange, black walnut, 

 cottonwood, white willow, green ash, and honey locust can be grown with 

 profit in eastern Nebraska. " Hardy catalpa, osage orange, and green ash 

 should be planted chiefly for fence posts, white willow for fuel, black walnut 

 for lumlter, and cottonwood for fuel and lumber. All attain their best develop- 

 ment in rich, well-drained valleys. Cottonwood, white willow, and black walnut 

 are essentially bottom-land trees. Osage orange should be planted on upland 

 only in fertile soils in southeastern counties. The range of hardy catalpa in 

 upland planting is considerably wider, but it must have good soil. Green ash 

 and honey locust are especially adapted for dry upland planting in the more 

 western and southwestern counties. ... In the sand hills some of the coni- 

 fers, such as western yellow pine and jack pine, undoubtedly may be planted 

 with profit, since land values are certain to remain low." 



Holding force of railroad spikes in wooden ties, W. K. Hatt (U. 8. Dept. 

 Afjr., Forest Sen: Circ. -'i6. pp. 7, iigs. Ji). — Tests were made to compare the 

 relative holding force of common, channeled, and common screw spikes, and 

 Illinois Central screw spikes, when driven into railroad ties of both hai'd and 

 soft woods in different states of seasoning and when treated with preservatives. 

 The common spikes weighed 16.5 to the 100 lbs., common screw spikes 85 to 

 the 100 lbs., channeled spikes 200 to the 100 lbs., and Illinois Central screw 

 spikes 85 to the 100 lbs. The results of the tests are given in tabular form. 



As regards the common screw spikes the tests show that they resisted 

 withdrawing with from 2 to .3 times the force of the common spikes, the resist- 

 ance being most marked in the softer woods. In soaked loblolly pine the 

 channeled spikes had about 60 per cent of the hohling power of screw spikes 

 and about 12 per cent more holding power than connnon spikes. The common 

 screw and Illinois Central screw spikes had practically the same holding 

 power in loblolly pine. 



The holding power of seasoned ties was found to be greater than that of 

 steamed ties. With connnon spikes knotty ties had about 25 per cent less 

 holding i»ower than clear ties. With the screw sjiikes. on the other hand, 

 a knotty tie had .".5 jicr cent greater holding power than a clear one. The 

 holding iM)wer of a natural tie and of one steamed for 4 hours at 30 lbs. pressure 

 was found to be about the same. " Steaming for 4 hours at less than 30 lbs. 

 appeal's to increase tlie holding power, while steaming for more than 4 hours 

 at 20 ll)s. decreases it. Ties steamed and crcosoted or steamed and treated with 

 zinc chlorid appear to have less holding i)ower than those simply steamed." 



